January 11, 2015

GOD LOVES FRUIT By; Neal Pollard

It is amazing how sweet a mango or red grape can taste. Surely, one of the crowns of creation had to

be the blackberry which, in a cobbler, shows man’s intellectual capacity at its finest. Genesis 1:11

records when God began making fruit, and this fruit was to sustain Adam and Eve (3:2-3). The diversity

of fruit on this earth shows God’s desire for man to experience the enjoyment of something conjured

by His perfect hand.

Man is not the only one who loves fruit. The Bible makes it clear that God has a “taste” for fruit, too. He

loves singing, which He calls “the fruit of lips” (Heb. 13:15). He calls the discipline of suffering “the

fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11). He enumerates the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, a

whole range of thoughts and actions that prove we are Christ’s.

Jesus made spiritual application through a fruitless fig tree on at least two occasions (Luke 13:6-9;

Matt. 21:18ff; cf. Mark 11:12-14). In John fifteen, Jesus uses this fruit metaphor in an extended way.

He is the vine. We are the branches. The Father is the farmer, the cultivator and fruit inspector. When

God looks at you and me and sees “much fruit,” He “is glorified by this” (John 15:5,8). The key is

abiding in Him. If you are truly in a relationship with the Lord,

cultivated by prayer, study, and faithful living, you are abiding in

Him. Fruit is visible, tangible, and discernible. Are you bearing or

barren?

January

1/1 Abbygail Holloway

1/1 Michael & Ashalee Crawford

1/3 Anthony & Kristy Dye

1/5 Phil Shannon

1/7 Ethan Holloway

1/8 Amanda Hamala

1/17 Leslee Reece

1/18 Dylan Dye

1/20 Scott Holloway; Brenda Koger

Look What Has Come to the World

An English writer has said, 'The early Christians did not go around saying, ‘Look what the world has come to.' Rather they went out with great joy and said to all men, ‘Look what has come to the world!'' There is a great difference between these two attitudes. Yes, the world is in bad shape-but read the second chapter of Romans and you will find that the world was in an awful condition in Paul's time. The unique Gospel of Jesus Christ offers the solution to man's problems. Look! See what has come into the world-God's revelation of Himself in all His power, wisdom, and love through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is indeed glorious news! This is a message which we cannot keep to ourselves, but we must tell everybody about it. No wonder Christians are radiant with joy. They have found the treasure all are seeking. They have seen what has come into the world in the advent of Jesus Christ, and they are working for the advancement of His kingdom until He comes again.

'In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.'-1 John 4:9

Oatmeal Canned Soup

Rice

This Week’s Pantry Items

PRAYER REQUESTS

OUR SICK

Vivian Compton, NHC-Ft. Oglethorpe

Ruth Koger, Siskin, Room 324

Carl Wallace, HMC, Room 232

Please remember our shut-ins in prayer: Burma Black, Jimmie Ann Brown, Leona Hale, Floyd Lones, Frances Parden, and Frances Thomas

FRIENDS & FAMILY

Ruby Gardner, Addie & Charlene’s sister

Joyce McCart, Ann Foster’s sister

Alice Adams, friend of Linda Uhler

Luther Crye, friend of Greg Bayne

Joe Keith, Sylvia Edwards’ son-in-law

Bill Morgan, member @Subligna

Stan Bettis, Walter Jackson’s brother

UPCOMING EVENTS January 11 Teen Singing; 2:30 PM @East

Side (Cleveland)

January 17 Men’s Study; 9 AM; Fellowship

Room

January 17 Monthly Family Devo; 6 PM;

Fellowship Room

January 18 Deposit due for Ladies’ Retreat

January 18 Men’s Business Meeting

First Sunday Assistance:

There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway for help with clean-up for the First Sunday Fellowship meals. Those who sign up are responsible for getting the food ready to serve and cleaning up afterwards.

Lesson NotesJanuary 11, 2015

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THE PARABLE• In the previous verses Jesus stressed the need for repentance.

Repentance was needed in that section because death can be sudden and unexpected (13:1, 4).

• Now, Jesus tells a parable to teach how God can initiate a brief period for repentance before He comes in judgment.

THE POINT• God calls for people to bear fruit (Jn. 15:1-5; Gal. 19-23).• There is a limit to God’s patience (cp. Rev. 2:19-22).THE PRODUCTION• To extend the analogy, Chickamauga church is God’s vineyard,

and we’re all fig trees. • Continuing the analogy, God comes to His vineyard, the

church, looking for fruit, and asks us what we’ve produced.THE POSSIBILITIES• The world says, “If its not working, cut it down.” God says, “If

they’re not working, be more gracious to them; throw some manure on them.”

• Chickamauga is a mission field! God has us here to bear fruit!

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GET INVOLVED //going on this week

Today // Upside Down: The Difficult Decisions // Teen Singing (Eastside)Tuesday // Hospital LunchWednesday // Tips For Better Bible StudySaturday // Men’s Bible Study 9 AM // Family Devo 6 PM

Word SearchLuke 13

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” 6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. Print.

Scripture ReadingLuke 13:1-9